Candidate endures heckling at West Virginia speech
New York Times May 8, 08 3:54 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Hillary Clinton had on her game face in West Virginia yesterday, but the crowd at the hastily arranged rally wasn't helping her keep her faltering campaign alive amid a torrent of talk that it's time for her to drop out. The crowd booed her proposal for a gas tax holiday, and greeted her statement that she'd end the Iraq war with catcalls. An Obama supporter turned on daughter Chelsea, calling out “End the dynasty!” when she introduced her mother, writes the New York Times .
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ANALYSIS
With highest delegate count remaining, May 20 primary sure to attract attention aplenty
Oregonian (Portland) May 7, 08 3:25 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Oregon’s primary, usually a non-event, is shaping up to get an unusual amount of attention this time around, the Oregonian reports. The state has 52 delegates at stake—huge among remaining contests—and is likely to be crucial for the Democrats in the fall as well. Says a state party official: “There’s talk that it’s going to be the last battleground state.”
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He predicts party will reunite for the general election
CNN May 6, 08 9:16 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Barack Obama tonight portrayed himself as the likely Democratic candidate and predicted the party will reunite once the primaries end, CNN reports. Analysts saw the speech as a direct appeal to superdelegates, a kickoff to the general election. After his resounding victory in North Carolina, Obama rejected the notion that the primary race has divided the party—that Clinton supporters or his supporters are so bitter they will jump ship and vote for John McCain. "I'm here to tell you tonight that I don't believe it."
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Ickes is determined to win nomination for Clinton
Time May 4, 08 7:20 PM CDT
(Newser)
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You can thank or blame one Democrat for the rise of superdelegates and demise of the party's winner-take-all primaries—but strategist Harold Ickes, who negotiated the primary system 20 years ago, is likely too busy to hear you. He's calling up superdelegates for Hillary Clinton, and using such a nasty tongue that Time couldn't print what it overheard.
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Voters clinging to 'traditional values' could require Democrats to tweak approach
New York Times Apr 24, 08 2:13 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Despite the ubiquitous use of “change” as a rallying cry in the Democratic primaries, the New York Times notes, the candidates might want to reconsider using it ahead of Indiana's May 6 primary. Although they’re dissatisfied with the economic toll taken by the decline in manufacturing, voters generally expressed “queasiness” in response to both candidates' use of the mantra.
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ANALYSIS
Pennsylvania primary changed nothing, party operatives agree
San Francisco Chronicle Apr 23, 08 7:38 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Hillary Clinton's 10-point win in Pennsylvania leaves the Democratic Party in the same quandary it was in before the primary, writes Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle, but with the pressure ratcheted up. While the race did not much improve Clinton's chances, it did expose Barack Obama's possible weaknesses as a general election candidate.
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ANALYSIS
Women, whites, working-class were key
Politico Apr 23, 08 4:00 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Hillary Clinton conquered Pennsylvania with the same coalition that drove her to victory in Ohio: white women, blue-collar workers and older voters. And once again, voters who decided in the last days of the primary skewed heavily toward the New York senator, reports Politico. The only surprise in her 55-45% win came among the young—while Barack Obama still won that demographic, the candidates split white voters age 29 and under.
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Host of factors makes five House Dems wary of May 6 endorsement
Politico Apr 14, 08 2:19 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Indiana is poised to become a major battleground in the Democratic presidential race, but Indiana’s Democratic House representatives look like they’re ducking the firefight. Four of the five are in their first terms, seemingly unwilling to risk angering party brass or alienating voters. Indiana’s contest looks incredibly close, Politico reports, and no one can discern which horse is winning.
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Bob Casey defends Obama from attacks
left and right
Chicago Tribune Apr 13, 08 5:45 PM CDT
(Newser)
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"Bittergate" erupted on talk shows today as pundits hammered Barack Obama for calling some rural voters "bitter," the Swamp blog reports. “He’s going to have to do some more explaining about this,” Clinton ally James Carville said. "It's big," said George Will. One GOP strategist called it "a general election nightmare" for Obama and the Democrats.
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Tally varies as superdelegates hedge their bets
Politico Apr 11, 08 6:23 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Media can't settle on a superdelegate count these days because many of the mucky-mucks refuse to name a candidate, Politico reports. Current figures all have Clinton leading Obama—and she needs the votes badly—but media estimates vary from 256-225 to 221-209. “This is an art rather than a science," the New York Times ’ political editor said.
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Candidate won't pay 'street money,' riling local Democrats
Los Angeles Times Apr 11, 08 2:44 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Barack Obama has been expected to do well in Philadelphia in this month's Pennsylvania primary, but a test of wills between his campaign and local party bosses might jeopardize his chances. The Philadelphia political scene has a long tradition of "street money"—payment to Democratic operatives who dispense $10, $20, and $50 bills to those who help get out the vote. But Obama's people won't pay up, writes the Los Angeles Times .
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Opinion
If primaries were winner-take-all, she'd have a tidy lead
Salon Apr 7, 08 11:19 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Barack Obama is beating Hillary Clinton in the delegate count only because of the eccentricities of the Democratic Primary system, argues Sean Wilentz on Salon. Like it or not, the general election will be a winner-take-all affair, and if the primaries were conducted the same way, Clinton would lead Obama 1,430 delegates to 1,257, with her total jumping to 1,743 if Florida and Michigan were counted.
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